Harbaugh and 49ers have deep rift per Jason LaCanfora/CBS
Of course I recognize this has little to do with Michigan Football, per se. But am I the only one doing the math on the two years remaining on his $5M/Year contract. Adam Schefter reports he's looking for $8-$9M moving forward, so if a certain thing with a certain hot-seat coach were to not work out so well in 2014, would this be a viable (real) option?
This assumes he would even consider coming back to college football.
#HasThatShipSailed?
February 25th, 2014 at 7:13 AM ^
No way he is out based on two road losses to what are likely to be top 10-15 teams.
I feel a certain group already wants Hoke gone, and I'm completely the opposite. I like our coach and hope he succeeds, and retires here.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
John harbaugh just got an extension with Baltimore. . .
February 24th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
Depends who you can get. If you can get Harbaugh right now you take him right now, and next year of course, short of a national title from Hoke. If your alternative is from somewhere like San Diego St., you stick with 7-6 and hope for the best. I'm not sure Michigan did a good job of assessing what their options would be before firing Rodriguez; hope they'd do better now (and I really don't know what those options would look like).
February 24th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
Another 7-6 season will have everyone up in arms, sure, but Hoke would still get one more year. The Borges firing and new OC bought him that time. You know this to be true.
Brandon isn't the type to readily admit failure, I have heard this from someone who worked directly under him at a previous job. He will go down with his ship, if it comes to that.
February 24th, 2014 at 6:40 PM ^
Hoke will have to finish sub .500 to get fired at the end of this season. Even then DB will probably give him another season to win 9 games. If Hoke finishes this season with 5 or more losses, he will be on the hot seat in 2015! I'm just worried if we finish .500 this season, then finishing 8-4 in 2015 will be, so called, improvement and Hoke will get his 2016 season. I'm fairly optimistic that the coaching staff will do a better job this season, so I only expect 2 to 4 losses.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
You know a lot of important people (Denise Illitch, for one) don't like Brandon, right? Won't be shocked if Mark Schlissel doesn't either.
If you think Hoke is coming back with a 6-6 season with losses to MSU and OSU just because they were bowl eligible, you are crazy.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
I'd be lying if the notion of Harbaugh coaching Michigan didn't make me excited. We all know he made comments about Michigan atheletes' academic problems, but from what I've seen at this school, he did not lie. Therefore, I do not hold it against him.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
This is interesting news, regardless of the Michigan connection past/dilusional present. Could you imagine trading your entire draft for a coach? And even if that deal did go through, why would a coach want to take over a team without any picks? Will be interesting to see how this season plays out in SF.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 8:39 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
...batshit crazy idea: Harbaugh returns to Michigan to coach both the Wolverines and the Lions ! He gets huge double-salary and all-time massive ego stroke. It's a win-win all around!
February 24th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^
is arguably the most desired/best football coach in the sport today. He could have just about any job he wanted, for just about as much money as he wanted. Michigan, as of right now, is a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team. Not exactly a "destination" job. So even if there is a rift, the chances of him coming to Michigan, realistically, are pretty low, no matter how great of a fit he'd be.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^
It depends what you mean. His style of football is consistent with traditional Michigan football. With that, there's no doubt. But, if you consider the image and brand ID that David Brandon is trying to cultivate, Harbaugh would be a potential huge liability. He's quirky, has an extremely short temper, and is highly unpredictable in regards to what he says to the media. On the sideline, he's like a smoking volcano ready to erupt at any time. And if you want to try and compare him to Bo, don't. Bo had a temper yes. But, he was always in control when talking to the media and never embarassed the school once - like Harbaugh already has with his comments about academics.
February 24th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^
Yeah, this is the reason I would have difficulty with someone saying that Jim Harbaugh is a "great fit" for Michigan, and it isn't because he isn't qualified professionally - that is not in dispute at all. The culture that the AD is trying to create and the culture that is now entrenched in part because of Brady Hoke's approach seems like something that the department wants to maintain. It wouldn't be very Harbaugh-friendly.
I think also the same thing that makes him a success as a coach is why the 49ers have their current quandary. Harbaugh seems like a high-strung, competitive person and that ultimately will wear on some in any organization. Of course, the 49ers management isn't exactly easy-going, so the head-butting there must be phenomenal, but other teams and especially colleges probably don't want that at all if possible. If there is any teeth to the idea that the Browns offered the world for Harbaugh, then it seems to underscore the notion that San Francisco actually thought about a world without Harbaugh despite the success. If that is the case, then I wouldn't doubt that this professional disagreement and tension could happen elsewhere.
Even if someone in the AD's office though about it for a moment, I don't see the athletic department as wanting the grief.
February 24th, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^
Here's a thought on why he would be a great fit: the guy wins. End of discussion. If Rich Rod's 2010 season was a nine win year we would not be where we are now. As Al Davis famously said, "Just win baby." Everything else will take core of itself.
February 24th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:34 PM ^
Snowballs and Hell comes to mind on this one. It's been pretty clear for a while that Jim Harbaugh little to no interest in coaching at Michigan.
His relationship with the SF ownership and management was a topic of conversation this past Saturday on ESPN Radio. It's stormy, to say the least, if the rumors are to be believed. But there's a wide gap between the mutual (?) animosity between head coach and management at a NFL Championship-caliber franchise and him returning to Ann Arbor like the Prodigal Son.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^
I'd pay Jim Motherfucking Harbaugh whatever he wants to come back to Michigan and be the head coach, but you know, I don't make those kinds of decisions
February 24th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
For the right amount of money, I bet you could.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
Too bad the right amount of money isn't $43.32 which is the current balance of my checking account. Think this quest is kickstarter worthy?
February 24th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Harbaugh's personal assistant is Mick Lombardi, son of Mike Lombardi, who worked with LaCanfora at NFL Network. The whole time Lombardi was the "GM" of the Browns, LaCanfora ran articl after article puffing up his boy, and then tried a takedown of the Browns as soon as Lombardi was canned (when, not even a week before he was supportive of the Browns moves, a total flip-flop).
I'm sure Harbaugh wants more money. He was never coming to the Browns. It may have been a plan cooked up by Lombardi and Harbaugh to make Lombardi seem heroic to Jimmy Haslam (word is that toward the end, Lombardi and banner were trying to cut each other's throats to save themselves) and save his job with the Browns, while Harbaugh uses the levarage for a raise, while Jason LaCanfora gets the scoop.
In my opinion anything coming from laCanfora that is even slightly related to Mike Lombardi is pure hogwash.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
The rift is also named the Seahawks. Good luck fixing that. :)
February 24th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
Yeah but the University only uses 4.5% of interest each year ($450,000 a year) in actual disbursements on the coaches pay. They never actually cut into the principal. That endowment is just a piece of Hoke's pay a year.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh, I think, has proven himself to be an insufferable asshole. It should be no shock that he's having issues getting along with a leadership group of an organization.
The problem is: he's a fantastic football coach and he's a Michigan Alumnus. If either of those things weren't true I'd hate him. Unfortunately, he's our kinda asshole. That being said, I'd say the chances of him ever returning to coach at Michigan are hovering right around the same as the odds that we reanimate Fielding Yost and bring him back to coach.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
Coach K is the highest paid college coach in any sport, about $9M per year as part of a program that has a fraction of the revenue of UM football. It won't be too long til we see those numbers on our coaching staff.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
If I was Brandon and thought I had even the smallest chance of getting Harbaugh I'd sit down with him and say "Jim....I'm going to start writing down your annual salary we are prepared to pay and will keep adding zeros until you stop me cause your'e ready to sign."
I'd make it real hard for him to say no. He's worth it.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
Why would Harbaugh stop him?
February 24th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
Great question - hadn't considered that twist to the story.......
February 24th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Well next time think it through.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
Could you imagine Harbaugh punching Urban Meyer in his stupid face? Beautiful thought.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
OH MY GOD MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
That is so silly and yet I loved every word of your post.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
Giving a hard handshake with a shit-eating smile to Dantonio after a UM win might be even better. I'm not a Hoke hater, but I'm a Hoke skeptic. I think Harbaugh is the therapy that UM needs, in terms of both acumen AND attitude.
February 24th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
Meyer asking Harbaugh "What's your deal?" after Michigan runs up the score.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Gimme some Harbaugh
February 24th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
February 24th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
This may be really out there, but Coughlin only signed a one year extension.
I know it's not So Cal, but I wonder how Ms. Harbaugh would feel about New York.
On the one hand, I can't see Giants ownership putting up with Harbaugh's nonsense - on the other hand, what he does on the football field is exactly what the Giants organization is committed to doing.
February 25th, 2014 at 5:14 AM ^
You mean NorCal.
SF/Palo Alto is Northern Cali.
San Diego / LA / Anaheim are SoCal
February 24th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^
To the people downvoting this - get real. Hoke has not earned enough respect for it to be uncouth to dream of Harbaugh, a UM legend with one of the most impressive resumes in all of football. Merely holding the head coaching job here does not make Hoke a demigod.